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Board Minutes 01/21/2015

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MEETING MINUTES

January 21, 2015

Osage Centre – Cape Girardeau

Board Voting Members Present:

Mr. Chauncy Buchheit, Southeast Missouri Regional Planning & Economic Development       Commission (SEMO RPC)

Mr. Charlie Herbst, Cape Girardeau County

Mrs. Barbara Lohr, City of Jackson

Mr. Scott Meyer, City of Cape Girardeau

Mr. Tom Mogelnicki, Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority (CTA)

Mr. Jim Roach, City of Jackson

Board Ex-Officio Members Present:

Mr. Mark Shelton, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

Technical Planning Committee Members Present:

Mr. Tom Caldwell, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

Mr. Drew Christian, Southeast Missouri Regional Planning & Economic Development             Commission (SEMO RPC)

Mr. Joe Killian, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

Mr. Brian Okenfuss, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

Staff Present:

Ms. Molly Hood, City of Cape Girardeau

Mr. Ryan Shrimplin, City of Cape Girardeau

Call to Order

Chairman Buchheit called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.

Introductions

There were no introductions.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Adoption of Agenda

The agenda of the January 21, 2015 Board of Directors Meeting was unanimously approved for adoption upon motion made by Mr. Herbst and seconded by Mr. Mogelnicki.

Minutes

The minutes of the November 19, 2014 Board of Directors Meeting were unanimously approved upon motion made by Mr. Mogelnicki and seconded by Mr. Herbst.

Communications from the Chairman

Chairman Buchheit reported that Cape Girardeau County submitted its project and maintenance needs to the SEMO RPC for review by its Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC).  He noted that some of the needs fall within the SEMPO boundary, and asked if those needs should be handled by the SEMPO Technical Planning Committee (TPC) instead.  It was determined that County needs within the SEMPO boundary should be handled by the TPC.

New/Unfinished Business

Mr. Christian provided an update on the progress of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  He stated the first three chapters of the MTP are nearing completion and will be submitted for review in February or March.  He is also working on a proposed naming convention for projects assigned to the TIP.  There are some projects that will need to be added to the TIP, so an amendment will be necessary in the upcoming months.

Chairman Buchheit stated the travel demand model created by Steve Duke with the Bootheel Regional Planning & Economic Development Commission is experiencing technical issues that are impairing its functionality, such as overlapping shapefiles.  If Mr. Duke is unable to get the issues resolved, SEMPO may need to resort to using a manual forecasting method.

Mr. Shrimplin gave a recap of the MTP information sessions that were held on November 19, 2014.  He indicated that attendance at the sessions was low.  Those that did attend, however, were very engaged in discussions about transportation values and priorities.  Specifically, two representatives of the Velo Girardeau bicycle club advocated for better integration of motorized and non-motorized vehicular traffic on roads. State Representative Donna Lichtenegger expressed her desire to see one-lane bridges widened or replaced.

Mr. Shrimplin stated the MoDOT Southeast District requested SEMPO’s lists of top maintenance needs and project needs for consideration in preparing the next STIP.  At its December 3, 2014 meeting, the TPC identified and prioritized needs for four lists (Maintenance Needs – Road & Bridge, Maintenance Needs – Multi-Modal, Project Needs – Road & Bridge, and Project Needs – Multi-Modal).  Vice Chairwoman Lohr made a motion to approve the SEMPO maintenance needs and project needs lists as submitted by the TPC.  Mr. Mogelnicki seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.  Because it was not clear if Cape Girardeau County’s needs were considered in the TPC meeting, the Board directed staff to have the TPC evaluate the lists to see if any changes are needed in light of the County’s needs.

Other Communications

Mr. Shelton presented “Missouri’s 325 System” – so named because in 2017, MoDOT’s construction funding will drop to $325 million.  This level of funding will not be sufficient to maintain all of Missouri’s 34,000 mile system.  In response to the shortfall, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) adopted the 325 System, which classifies the system into primary roads and supplementary roads.  Primary roads are roads that connect cities across the state (approximately 8,000 miles).  Supplementary roads are the remaining roads used for local travel (approximately 26,000 miles).  The entire $325 million that MoDOT receives will be used to maintain the primary roads and bridges, leaving the supplementary roads and bridges without funding for maintenance and repairs.  This will quickly lead to deterioration, and some supplementary bridges could be closed indefinitely.  The process to arrive at the 325 System involved some “tough choices”.  MHTC and MoDOT warn that unless additional funding is approved, more “tough choices” lie ahead.

Mr. Roach stated that MoDOT presented the results of the US-61/Main Street intersection traffic studies at the Jackson Board of Aldermen meeting, and recommended a roundabout be constructed to alleviate the traffic issues.

Mr. Herbst thanked MoDOT and the City of Jackson for “putting the brakes on” their transportation projects and allowing Cape Girardeau County time to assess its facility needs and determine how to proceed.  He stated the County’s Facility Review Advisory Board will hold an open house on January 22, 2015 to solicit public input on the three options proposed by the architecture firm.  The Advisory Board will present its final recommendation to the County Commission on January 26, 2015.

Mr. Meyer reported the Cape Girardeau Transportation Trust Fund 5 (TTF 5) Subcommittee presented a list of recommended projects to the City Council for consideration.  There has been discussion regarding the need for expanding the maintenance portion of the program.  The Council will seek input from citizens and prepare a final list for the August ballot.

Mr. Mogelnicki stated MoDOT has hired a consultant to conduct an audit of all recipients of FTA funds, including transit providers and MPO’s.  The Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority is one of the agencies being audited.  To date, SEMPO has not received MoDOT/FTA pass through funds and therefore will not be audited this round.  He added that CTA has applied for FTA Section 5339 funds to procure five to six vehicles and some bus shelters.

Adjournment

Upon motion made by Mr. Mogelnicki, seconded by Mr. Roach, the meeting was adjourned unanimously at 2:45 p.m.